Meet Luis Felipe Villasana | Plant-Based entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Luis Felipe Villasana and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Luis Felipe, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking

For me, there’s only only certain thing in life: change. That’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way throughout my years. I see taking risks in many ways as willingly embracing that unavoidable change. For me, risk is a great tool because it pushes me out of the comfort zones I’ve build, and makes me strive for a better version of myself. For example, before launching Planta Base (our plant-based foods business) I was well established in a job making a good pay. Yet, somehow I felt depressed, like something was missing. So after analyzing myself, my situation and discussing it with my wife, I quit that job and decided to take a sabbatical to rethink what I wanted to attract in life. I had little-to-no savings, no clue of what the future would bring, but deep inside me it felt right, honest, wholesome. I took a risk. It truly felt like leaping into an abysm and hoping that the Universe would be there to catch me. And guess what? It did! Ideas started coming to me like lightnings. Sincronicities started to occur before my eyes in ways I can’t explain. Before we even realized it, we had schemed our new business and were ready to launch it.

I look forward to taking life-changing risks more often in my life. I’ve experienced the power of surrendering to change and just letting the Universe carry you forward. Spoiler alert: it will all be ok! You just got to enjoy the ride.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always considered myself a very creative individual. I love to constantly experiment, try out new ideas right away. I’m the creative director in our plant-based business located in Caracas, Venezuela. My job is to experiment with different plant-based proteins in order to launch new products into the market. I probably watch way more YouTube videos and read too many books than I should when doing research, to the point of obsession. But the fact is: I love studying, creating something with my own twists, my own flavors. That’s were I find my truest joy, my highest vocation. I believe that my current calling is to produce healthy local plant-based foods to Venezuelans. We deserve to have options, variety, to have fun while we eat. And ultimately, I’m just here to serve.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First, I would not have come so far down this path if it weren’t for my lovely wife and business partner Olga. She has understood me and accepted me with great compassion no matter what actions I’ve taken. Second, I would like to thank my family. My mom, dad, cousin, grandma and my mother-in-law have been fundamental in my personal and business growth. I would like to give a special shoutout to my sister Carola who has been an incredible source of inspiration through the this journey; thank you! Last but not least, in the past year we’ve built a team of 8 souls that help us carry out our mission in Venezuela. Thank you all for making me a better person and for helping me make dreams come true.

Instagram: @laplantabase @elbroscoli